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Poetry Out Loud Event Celebrates the Spoken Word

12/5/2019

Collegiate School hosted last evening Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation contest that helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about literary history and contemporary life.

Twenty-one Collegiate students participated in the program, during which a panel of Upper School faculty members served as judges. The event was organized by Upper School English teacher Mil Norman-Risch.

The Poetry Out Loud competition allows winners to move from school to region to state to national competitions. Since 2005, the program has impacted more than 3 million students and 50,000 teachers nationwide.

The Collegiate students who participated were Pender Bauhan, Catherine Schwarzschild, Alex McKay, Marcella Leonard-Jackson, Lili Zeballos, Diamond Lightfoot, Davis Messer, Charlie Loach, Henry Mountcastle, Naima Orr, Liam Ryan, Roxy Sawyer, Nina Zeballos, Jack Smithson, Bella Zeballos, Caliyah Bennett, Akum Dhillon, Andrew Eastep, Abby Fleming and Charlotte Harrison.

Junior Abby Fleming was named the winner with a recitation of Oranges by Roisin Kelly. Senior Alex McKay was the runner-up, performing I Carry Your Heart With Me by e.e. cummings. Freshman Charlie Loach came in third place with his recitation of Harold and the Purple Crayon by D. Gilson.

Abby and Alex will attend the regional competition, with Abby competing, on Feb. 10, 2020, at the Richmond Performing Arts Center. The state finals will be held on March 13, 2020 at VPM PBS Richmond.

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